The Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission wants to make sure wireless providers and city officials get their signals straight.

The popularity of cell phones that also act as television and e-mail providers has created a need for an update to the city's and county's wireless communications ordinance, said Harmit Bedi, MPC deputy executive director.

"The technology is changing at a fast pace and this community needs to address that," Bedi said. "At the same time the community needs to preserve its aesthetics, its historic values."

The key issue in trying to satisfy all demands: companies that provide cell phone service say for the strongest signals they need to put their equipment near their users. Those same users don't want the towers to stick out in their neighborhoods.

The MPC held a public meeting Tuesday to discuss how the ordinance, now in its second draft, is progressing and what, if any, changes need to be made.

Bedi stressed the ordinance is in draft form and will seek public comment before being adopted.

The MPC is focusing on the height and visibility of wireless facilities for the revision, said Charlotte Moore, director of special projects.

The MPC prefers towers known as "concealed attached," Moore said. She projected a picture of a chimney being used as a support structure as an example. But applicants won't be limited to those types.

Companies will have to explain why they can't provide a "concealed attached'' unit, Moore said.

"There will be a certain criteria. It might be engineering, structurally, perhaps the wind load won't work out. So they have to provide that information to us."

Freestanding nonconcealed monopoles are on the bottom of the MPC's list of desired facilities. They can be up to 199 feet, provided that the applicant provides evidence of need. It would not be permitted within a residential district, recognized historic district or within 100 feet of either.

"That's an area we may want to speak about. I'm sure there will be some providers that don't agree with that." Moore said. "But if you have an area that's fairly sensitive you may not want that monopole directly up against a residential neighborhood or historical area. So by backing it off a little bit there may be other things that help shield it: Buildings, vegetation. So that's why that 100 feet is in there."

Jonathan Yates, national counsel for National Wireless Construction LLC, said his hope for the ordinance is that it be fair, affective and unambiguous.

The 100-foot stipulation would make it difficult to get a signal in to residential communities, which are placing higher demands on providers, Yates said.

"Yes, the easy answer is saying stay out of residential," Yates said. "But it's not the right answer because residential is where your citizens live. Residential is where our customers live because they are one and the same."

Yates asked the MPC to look at whether citizens will be able to get the coverage they need as they analyze the developing ordinance.

"I don't think the ordinance will get there at this point," Yates said. "And until we tie this up and try to do it, I think that takes another look."

Bedi said the MPC is hoping to have the ordinance adopted by the end of the year. However, as technology evolves, so will the ordinance.

"Ordinances are always open to amendments according to demands of time," Bedi said. "When I say time I mean technology and community."